Covid-19 Vaccine Tourism Launches, San Marino Offers Sputnik V

JAKARTA - The Republic of San Marino, located in mainland Italy, announced the launch of its COVID-19 vaccine tourism program, offering a Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine, Wednesday, May 12.

The country, with an outside 61 square kilometres and a population of 34,000, first received the Sputnik V vaccine last February.

So far San Marino has immunized 25 thousand inhabitants. Most are using Russia's (Sputnik V) vaccine, officials said in a statement Wednesday.

"In the absence of corona virus patients currently in the hospital, San Marino decided to launch a campaign inviting tourists to be vaccinated with Sputnik V," San Marino Tourism Minister Federico Pedini Amati said in a statement.

"The vaccination tourism campaign will begin on May 17 and will be of concern to foreigners, non-Italians," the minister continued, as reported by Reuters.

Travelers who wish to come for COVID-19 vaccination should book a hotel room at least one week prior to arrival, he continued. They must also have plans for a second trip, 21 to 28 days later, to receive their booster dose.

Two doses of tourists will cost 15 euros, San Marino officials said. They also hope the state can soon issue vaccination certificates to residents and tourists.

San Marino is not a member of the European Union and Sputnik V has not been approved for use in the Eropoa Union. The vaccine is currently under review by the EUROPEAN Union's health regulator, the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

In a press release on Monday, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), the sovereign wealth fund responsible for marketing vaccines abroad, said it was ready to deliver an additional dose of the SPUTNIK V COVID-19 vaccine to San Marino.

"RDIF is ready to provide additional supply of vaccines to organize vaccination tours," said RDIF Chief Executive Kirill Dmitriev.